Influence of seafood and vitamin supplementation on maternal and umbilical cord blood mercury concentration
Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, online 3 March 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcma.2016.11.005
Shih-Hui Huanga, b, Ken-Pen Wengc, d, e, , , , Luo-Ping Gerf, Huei Han Liouf, Ching -Chiang Ling, h, Chung-Cheng Wangi, Charles Tzu-Chi Leea, Ming-Tsang Wua, j, k,
- Farmed salmon is the most toxic food known - in addition to Mercury
Probably similar problems with other, non salmon, farmed fish
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Background
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of maternal seafood consumption and vitamin supplementation during pregnancy on maternal and umbilical cord blood mercury (Hg) concentration.
Methods
In this study of 145 healthy pregnant women (mean age 28.1 ± 5.2 years), we administered questionnaires, collected paired maternal/umbilical cord blood samples, and measured the anthropometrics of newborns. Blood Hg concentration was assayed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.
Results
Sixty-one of these women (42.1%) used vitamins >3 times/wk prenatally. Seventy-eight of our study participants (61.9%) reported eating higher amounts of seafood during pregnancy. We found a strong correlation (r = 0.76, p < 0.001) between Hg levels in the paired maternal/umbilical cord blood samples. Mothers with high seafood consumption had a 2.91-fold greater risk (adjusted odds ratio 2.91, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–8.15, p = 0.042) of high Hg levels (>5.8 μg/L).
However, mothers whose prenatal vitamin intake was >3 times/wk were found to have low Hg levels (≤5.8 μg/L) (adjusted odds ratio 0.06, 95% confidence interval: 0.01–049, p = 0.008).
Conclusion
High seafood consumption was an independent risk factor for high maternal Hg level, while vitamin supplementation was a protective factor. Further study is needed to investigate the specific effect of vitamins on Hg level.